Joel DeBoer column: Spring offers excellent fishing opportunities

Apr. 3, 2013

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I donít know about you, but winterís prolonged icy grasp has only exacerbated my annual case of cabin fever.

While March Madness last year meant checking basketball scores from my phone while jigging up piles of walleyes in my boat and basking in the springtime sunshine, this year looks just a tad different. Regardless of how far off spring appears as I gaze at the piles of snow just outside the window, I know deep down that some exciting early season fishing opportunities are just around the corner.

For starters, there is the annual rite of spring here in Godís country ó fishing the yearly walleye run. I spend the bulk of my time for marble-eyes plying the depths of the Wisconsin River and her flowages.

The equipment is relatively simple: a collection of VMC Hammerhead jigheads for live bait fishing and Neon Moon Eye jigheads for using with plastic trailers, Trigger X Paddle Tail Minnows and Swimming Grubs, and an assortment crankbaits. Wherever you fish, you must to be able to adapt; this might mean vertical jigging live bait one day, only to be casting jigs and plastics the next to stay on active fish.

Another excellent angling opportunity that arises in early spring is the brown trout bite on Lake Michigan. Accessible to both shore anglers and boaters alike, large numbers of browns are readily available to those looking for action and excitement on the big water.

Lake Michigan is home to an arguably world-class fishery when it comes to brown trout, not only in numbers, but with the existence of true trophy-caliber fish present. Many of the same crankbaits that will produce walleyes also will produce action from brown trout.

Long before the ice dissipates from local water, the last hurrah of ice fishing will be complete. While several species of fish offer extensive action during this time frame, perhaps none provides more heart-pounding excitement than northern pike.

Targeting these finned beasts in backwaters, bays and near creek mouths is best done through the use of tip-ups. I personally prefer the Frabill Pro-Thermal for shallow water pike fishing. Lakes DuBay and Wausau both are home to an often-overlooked pike fishery, including specimens surpassing the 40-inch mark.

Regardless of how you spend your spring, be safe on the water and remember to support respectful and responsible practices with our fishery.